TheBallon d’Or is an esteemed individual award in the world of football, established by France Football magazine in 1956.
It recognizes the outstanding player in the sport, with a rich history of recipients.
Former Blackpool star Stanley Matthews was the inaugural winner, while Luis Suarez, the former Barcelona and Inter player who recently passed away in July 2023, is Spain’s sole Ballon d’Or winner.
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins, securing the honor seven times.
FIFA and France Football collaborated on the award from 2010 to 2015, after which FIFA created its own trophy, The Best.
New voting rules and criteria
In 2023, there are significant changes to the Ballon d’Or evaluation criteria.
Individual performance and the candidate’s decisive and impressive character take precedence over the collective aspect and trophies won, as well as the player’s class and sense of fair play.
This shift could favor players such as Messi and Erling Haaland, known for their extraordinary skills.
Who votes for the Ballon d’Or 2023?
The voting process also evolved this year, with 100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries participating as jurors.
This is a reduction from the previous system, where up to 170 journalists voted in the men’s category, and there are 50 jurors in the women’s category.
These changes are expected to introduce more objectivity and focus on individual excellence in the Ballon d’Or award, making it an even more prestigious recognition in the world of football.